Early returnStory date: Aug. 13, 2011 Earlier start date one change facing area students By Adam Sweeney education@couriernews.com To see the most immediately obvious change concerning schools in the area, students need look no further than their calendars. New state legislation allows school districts to begin classes as early as Aug. 15. Most schools in the area are taking advantage of the ability to start early despite many districts making up days mis...

Contractor sues engineering firm over Center for Performing ArtsCourier staff Randall Williams, superintendent of the Russellville School District, told The Courier late Thursday that EWI Constructors, the general contractor building the Center for Performing Arts (CPA) at Russellville High School, has filed a lawsuit against the engineering firm Crafton Tull for time lost on the construction project. Williams added that the school district is not involved, and will provide further information Friday. Look...

High School UStory date: Aug. 6, 2011 Center students could graduate high school with as many as 21 college credit hours in hand By Adam Sweeney education@couriernews.com At the beginning of July, a major change took place at the Area Career and Technical Center. Starting July 1, the center's name changed to Arkansas Tech Career Center and with that name change came a unique opportunity for its students: The chance to earn college credit while in high scho...

State's ed standard is shiftingStory date: Aug. 6, 2011 Students to move to new, simpler curriculum By Nomaan Merchant Associated Press LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Arkansas students will soon begin a move to a new school curriculum that administrators say is simpler and more effective. The state has adopted Common Core standards designed by school administrators nationwide in an attempt to bring every state up to the same level of education benchmarks. More than 20 states have adopt...

Great garden experienceStory date: July 30, 2011 GT students say okra is the biggest producer By Adam Sweeney education@couriernews.com Even on summer break, the learning didn't end for some Russellville Gifted and Talented (GT) students, who had the opportunity to have hands-on experience at the vegetable garden at London Elementary School. The garden, which was planted in April, kept the small group of volunteers, including parents, teachers and students, busy har...

What now?Story date: July 30, 2011 Two Rivers discusses next steps after millage proposal failure By Adam Sweeney education@couriernews.com OLA - During its meeting Thursday night, the Two Rivers School Board discussed how to proceed following the failure of a proposed 10.8 millage increase for a sports complex and elementary school. During the special election on July 12, 1,360 (84 percent) voted against the proposal, while 251(16 percent) voted for t...

30-Hour FamineStory date: March 19, 2011 Dardanelle students coordinate fund-raising effort By Adam Sweeney education@couriernews.com At their church last year, two Dardanelle High School students participated in a fund-raising event aimed at raising awareness of world hunger. They were so moved by the experience, they accepted coordinating duties for World Visions 30-Hour Famine this year. Senior Courtney Patton said she was willing to help last year but w...

Second placeStory date: Feb. 26, 2011 RMS quiz bowl team earns spot in next week's finals By Adam Sweeney education@couriernews.com The quiz bowl team of Russellville Middle School followed a path similar to the one taken by Russellville Junior High's team last week, claiming second place in the Elementary Quiz Bowl Tournament at Grace Baptist Church on Friday. The main difference was the seeding. While RJHS earned a second-seed during pool play, RMS was ...

Four decades laterStory date: Dec. 18, 2010 Former Wonder Boys football star receives degree By Sam Strasner For The Courier Larry Brown rushed for a school-record 3,603 yards as a member of the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football team from 1968-71. His combination of power and speed made him a star for the 1971 Wonder Boys, perhaps the greatest team in Arkansas Tech football history. But all of the rushing yards, the championships, the adulation - none of it co...

RHS Quiz Bowl team gets new lifeStory date: Nov. 26, 2010 Coach: Team gearing up for regional tournament in March By Whitney Snipes government@couriernews.com Across the country, thousands of junior high, high school and even college teams are competing in battles of intellectual wit, and Russellville High School (RHS) students are again among those numbers. Though dormant for the past few years, this year's coaches, Paul Gray and Brandon Cooper, have revived the RHS Quiz Bo...

RHS students perform 'Our Town'Story date: Oct. 16, 2010 Students perform classic theatrical production By Cara Bailey education@couriernews.com Russellville High School (RHS) senior Haley Martin, 17, has lived two lives since the beginning of September - her life and that of Emily Webb Gibbs. Martin has prepared for the role by reciting and writing Gibbs' lines in anticipation of her performance in the RHS play. For three nights, Martin will live the character's life, and ...

'We the people' honor Constitution Day at TechStory date: Sept. 18, 2010 By Stephanie Gaines For The Courier Arkansas Tech University brought the community together Friday to celebrate Constitution Day, starting with a reading of the full document and its 27 amendments by students, faculty and other local civic leaders. This national holiday was established by law in 2004, and requires publicly funded educational institutions to set aside time each Sept. 17 to teach about the U.S. Constit...

Enough signatures verified for Drown's U.S. Senate bidStory date: May 8, 2010 Last Independent candidate appeared on '78 ballot By Adam Franks government@couriernews.com LITTLE ROCK - A Russellville man seeking election to the U.S. Senate as an Independent candidate submitted more than the required 10,000 signatures to have his name appear on the ballot in November, the Arkansas Secretary of State's office confirmed Friday. Deputy Secretary of State Janet Harris said Friday that Trevor Drown, 39,...

News BriefsStory date: Feb. 12, 2010 Veterans to hold dance Rogers-Rye Post 2283 of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ladies Auxiliary will hold its annual Valentine Dance at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Music will be provided by Southern Nights. A king and queen will be selected. Hospice to hold pageant The Department of Health Hospice will present its third annual River Valley "Valentine Beauties" Pageant at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Gardner Auditorium. Registratio...

Pottsville School Board approves overnight tripsStory date: Feb. 25, 2009 By Cindi Nobles Reporter The Pottsville School Board considered an overnight trip for the high school EAST team in Hot Springs, where eight students and two chaperones will attend a conference. The board approved the trip during its meeting Thursday. The board also considered and approved an overnight trip for fifth-grade students. "This is a reward for students that have had good behavior and good grades throughout t...

Education Briefsstory date: Nov. 30, 2008 Holiday band concert at Tech on Friday Arkansas Tech University's band and Jazz Ensemble will celebrate the holiday season with a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Witherspoon Auditorium. The public is invited. The Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Time Howe, will begin the concert by presenting several holiday favorites in what Howe described as a "swinging, big band style." Rebecca Velez and Shanna Collins will appea...

ChoicesStory date: Nov. 1, 2008 Red Ribbon Week not just about drugs anymore By Michael Cox Reporter Healthy drinks, eating disorders and planning for college: these were just a few of the topics covered in Pottsville Junior High School's (PJHS) "Choices" fair Friday afternoon. "Every single decision a junior high student can make is represented here," Julie Stroud, counselor and fair advisor, said. Stroud explained the junior high Ambassadors, a gro...

Back in the classroomStory date: Oct. 26, 2008 Pottsville High School hosts technology conference for district teachers By Michael Cox education@couriernews.com Pottsville School District teachers got to spend a little time on the other side of the chalkboard during a special conference Friday on the high school campus. Chalkboards, of course, are a bit of an anachronism. Most classrooms haven't seen a chalkboard for more than a decade, and today even markerboards...

Pottsville schools exceed all annual progress goalsStory date: Oct. 21, 2008 School board receives annual report By Michael Cox Reporter The Pottsville School Board received the Annual Report to the Public at its regular meeting Oct. 16. "It is the aim of Pottsville School District, in partnership with the core values and hopes of our community, to create a learning environment that will produce lifelong learners, productive citizens and successful contributing members of a global society," Su...